Inflatable deck panel with embedded fasteners

Abstract

An inflatable drop stitch panel and method of use is provided with a plurality of rigid embedded fasteners inserted in apertures in the panel. In the method of use for the inflatable panel, the uninflated panel with embedded fasteners is placed on the deck of a surface ship and secured to deck fittings by tensioned lines. The panel is then inflated to operational pressure and equipment is secured to the panel using the embedded fasteners. The inflatable panel is a temporary structure and requires no permanent changes to the deck surface, such as drilling holes and welding fasteners.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An inflatable panel for securing equipment on a ship deck; said inflatable panel comprising:
 a planar drop-stitch panel having a woven top surface, a woven bottom surface and a plurality of drop yarns connecting said woven top surface to said woven bottom surface between a first plane of said woven top surface and a first plane of said woven bottom surface; 
 an elastomeric membrane laminated to a second plane of said woven top surface opposite to said first plane of said woven top surface and laminated to a second plane of said woven bottom surface opposite to said first plane of said woven bottom surface to create a top skin on said second plane of said woven top surface and to create a bottom skin on said second plane of said woven bottom surface to ensure air-tightness of said inflatable panel; 
 a plurality of apertures extending through said top skin and said bottom skin; 
 at least one side wall secured to and extending between said top skin and said bottom skin around each of said plurality of apertures; 
 a first tab of material secured to said top skin around a top perimeter of each of said plurality of apertures; 
 a second tab of material secured to said bottom skin around a bottom perimeter of each of said plurality of apertures; and 
 a rigid fastener disposed in each of said plurality of apertures and secured to said first tab and said second tab of said plurality of apertures, said rigid fastener defining a central aperture therein with internal threads formed on a surface of said central aperture to be capable of receiving an externally threaded device. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of apertures form a grid pattern on said inflatable panel. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said grid pattern is a two-foot by two-foot grid pattern. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first tab and said and second tab are made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said central aperture of each said rigid fastener is one inch in diameter, said internal threads on each said central aperture are 8 UNC internal threads and each said central aperture includes at least two inches of thread engagement. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a rigid bracing that extends across a width of said inflatable panel, said rigid bracing being fixed to said inflatable panel via at least one of said plurality of rigid fasteners. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a rigid bracing that extends across a length of said inflatable panel, said rigid bracing being fixed to said inflatable panel via at least one of said plurality of rigid fasteners. 
     
     
       8. A method of using an inflatable panel to secure equipment on a deck of a surface ship, said method comprising the steps of:
 placing the inflatable panel in an uninflated state at a desired location on the deck of the surface ship; 
 securing the inflatable panel in the uninflated state to the deck using tensioned lines secured at one end to embedded fasteners in the inflatable panel and at another end to deck fittings; 
 inflating the inflatable panel to an operational pressure; and 
 securing the equipment to the inflatable panel using the embedded fasteners in the inflatable panel. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said step of securing equipment further comprises using externally threaded eye hooks threaded into the embedded fasteners. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the deck includes a railing fixed to the deck and wherein said step of securing the inflatable panel includes at least partially securing the inflatable panel to the railing using the tensioned lines. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , said method further including the steps of:
 uninstalling the equipment from the embedded fasteners; 
 removing the equipment from the inflatable panel; 
 deflating the inflatable panel; 
 untying the inflatable panel; and 
 removing the inflatable panel from the deck.